Heads of state, U.S. Supreme Court justices, movie stars and even Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley receive the red-carpet treatment when they fly through Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, according to more than 300 pages of internal security reports released Tuesday from the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Upon request, a uniformed Transportation police officer will meet dignitaries and celebrities at the curb and escort them to their gate.
“They do not bypass security,” said Transportation Police Chief Gary McLhinney. “We just put a uniformed officer with them to avoid disturbances. I think it?s good police work.”
McLhinney said any officer normally assigned to the airport can be called on to escort a VIP, but about half a dozen have been specially trained in dignitary protection since 2003. He said the department spent about $4,500 per officer for a two-week live-in training program sponsored by the U.S. Secret Service.
Officers have provided extra protection for a wide variety of important people, including President George Bush?s twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna Bush; Labor Secretary Elaine Chao; former Polish President Lech Walesa; and former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, even though many have their own security detail and airport security could be used to patrol other areas.
